Allentown Councilwoman Cynthia Mota announced her plan to run for her first elected term on city council Tuesday.

Mota, who was appointed to the board in January 2012 to replace Councilman Michael D'Amore, touted her experience in the human services field and connection to the city's growing Hispanic community.

"I am what Allentown is today," she said.

Like Council President Julio Guridy, who announced his candidacy for a fourth term on council last week, Mota outlined a five-point plan for Allentown. (You can read more about it at www.cynthiamota.com.) Both Mota and Guridy's campaigns are managed by consultant Mike Fleck, who has also been charged with Mayor Ed Pawlowski's reelection bid.

Mota kept her speech brief (Props for that. It was 18 degrees in front of City Hall.) but she did address a controversial decision she made during her first term. In February 2012, Mota voted against a plan from New Jersey-based Delta Thermo energy to build a waste-to-energy plant in the city. One month later she reversed that decision and cast the deciding vote to create a non-binding agreement with Delta Thermo.

Mota said Tuesday that she voted against the project because she felt the idea needed more due diligence, but was later convinced that the plant would save Allentown money. The deal has made Allentown a model city for green energy production state-wide, she said. Developers are still trying to line up financing for the plant, which would burn the city's trash and sewer sludge to create electricity. Construction on the plant has yet to begin.

"I'm not afraid to change a vote when it's best for the city," Mota said.